cradle

揺りかご

ゆっくり前後に揺らせる、赤ちゃん用の小さな寝床。

やさしい英語で： A small bed for a baby that can move gently backwards and forwards.

• The baby slept in a cradle.
• She gently rocked the cradle with her foot.
• They put a soft blanket inside the wooden cradle.

よく使う表現： a wooden cradle, in the cradle, rock a cradle

幼少期、乳児期

生まれたときから始まる、人生の最も早い時期。

やさしい英語で： The earliest part of someone’s life, beginning at birth.

• She had known him from the cradle.
• Music surrounded him from the cradle.
• The story follows her life from the cradle to the grave.

使い方： from the cradle to the grave (The scheme provides support from the cradle to the grave.)

類義語： infancy

よく使う表現： from the cradle, cradle to grave

船台

建造や修理の間、船を支える丈夫な台。

やさしい英語で： A strong frame that supports a boat while it is being built or repaired.

• The boat rests on a cradle.
• Workers checked the cradle before repairing the hull.
• The shipyard built a steel cradle for the damaged vessel.

類義語： support frame

よく使う表現： boat cradle, repair cradle, on a cradle, launching cradle

優しく抱く、そっと支える

人や物を、よく腕の中で、優しく丁寧に抱いたり支えたりすること。

やさしい英語で： To hold someone or something gently and carefully, often in your arms.

• She cradled the baby in her arms.
• He cradled a warm cup between his hands.
• The nurse gently cradled the injured man’s head.

使い方： cradle someone/something in your arms/hands (He cradled the injured bird in his hands.)

類義語： hold, cuddle

よく使う表現： cradle someone’s head, cradle in arms, cradle a cup

揺すって寝かしつける、あやす

赤ちゃんを優しく前後に揺すり、眠れるようにすること。

やさしい英語で： To move a baby gently backwards and forwards to help them sleep.

• She cradled the baby to sleep.
• He softly sang as he cradled his newborn.
• The mother cradled her restless child until he fell asleep.

使い方： cradle someone to sleep (She cradled her daughter to sleep.)

類義語： rock

よく使う表現： cradle a baby, cradle someone to sleep

収める、包み込む

支えとなる場所に収めたり、周りを囲んで守ったりすること。

やさしい英語で： To contain something in a bed or support, or surround it as a protective space.

• The frame cradles the boat.
• Green hills cradled the quiet village.
• The fitted base cradles the glass sphere securely.

類義語： contain, support

よく使う表現： cradle a boat, cradle a village